State of Jefferson Elite Rugby Club has best season yet

Tuesday

May 13, 2014 at 2:35 PM

Daily News Sports Editor Bill Choy@SDNBillChoy

The State of Jefferson Elite Rugby Club recently concluded its league season with the most wins the team’s three year history.Below, longtime rugby player and team spokesperson Judd Hanna gives an overview of the season.For more information on the squad, go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/State-Of-Jefferson-Elite-Rugby-Club/163391263717646.

Judd, can you give me a recap of how the season went for the team?This is our third year in the Northern California Rugby Football Union, and this season was, by far, our best yet. Rugby is the ultimate game of teamwork, and as a relatively new and inexperienced team, this was the first year that I felt we really had a solid core group of guys. Many of us have played together for three years now, and we’ve also recruited some new guys who are terrific athletes who’d picked up the game quickly. Granted, we only came away from the season with two wins (and one was a forfeit), but we were close in nearly every game we played. We lost to Shasta twice, each time by one score, and were only a score and conversion away from beating the league champions this year. Those losses were a disappointment because we knew those were matches we could have won.Was there a game that stood out for you?Our first two home games — Shasta and Mendocino — were so close. I think it’s when we realized that when we had all of our players healthy and working together, we could be a really good team. But our win against the San Francisco Fog has to be the highlight. Just to get that first mark in the win column was such a weight off our shoulders. We’d played them the week before, on Treasure Island, and our expectations were high. We were really nervous and started horribly, but finished strong, so when they came up to Yreka the following week, we knew we could win.What are the team's plans for this summer? How can people sign-up? The summer is a great time for rugby because it’s an excellent learning opportunity for new players. During the summer we play 7s, which is a much shorter game, with only 7 on a side (as opposed to the normal 15). It’s a very fast game, but it’s easy to learn. We host the Greg Smith Memorial Tournament on June 7, and then usually try to go to a few other tournaments. Also, we are really excited to join up with the YMCA and offer a Youth Rugby Clinic for ages 9-14, from June 30 - July 2nd. We always welcome new players, and anyone who’s interested in playing should check our Facebook page; we post practice times there. Why do you think someone should take up rugby?A lot of guys, especially in Siskiyou County, are looking for an activity that’s both physical and social. Rugby is the ultimate combination of those elements. It’s an amazing sport that combines teamwork, creativity, and the desire to knock people on their butts. You don’t have to be 6’5”, 230 lbs to play (but if you are, seriously, you should be playing rugby), because it’s a sport that has a position for every shape and size. It’s really amazing that there’s a local club that the people in Siskiyou County can come check out. It's fast paced, hard hitting, and exciting. It’s so appealing because the game is in constant motion, and so you’re playing both offense and defense for 80 minutes. You spend the entire match trying to smash your opponent, but when the final whistle blows, you shake hands and have a beer together.